Jackson Merrill, however, is not as the 22-year-old center fielder will miss a third straight game since leaving Sunday with left ankle discomfort. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will also sit after he was hit by a pitch and took a foul ball off his shin on Tuesday.

Sox players, coaches, and staffers reconnected with the former Boston shortstop at Petco Park Friday before the start of a three-game series against the Padres.

Jose Iglesias reaches on a fielding error then Xander Bogaerts scores on a throwing error, making the score 4-1 in the bottom of the 7th

Ramón Laureano moved over from left to play center field in place of Merrill with Gavin Sheets getting his second straight start in left field. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts was also on the bench Wednesday after being hit in the hand by a pitch Tuesday night and, for the second straight day, fouling a ball off his shin.

As Dennis Lin of The Athletic pointed out, the resurgence of Xander Bogaerts lately has been a huge reason for the Padres taking the lead from the Dodgers in the NL West. Ironically, his resurgence came after a loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts commended Will Smith for his play behind the plate on Saturday, as he threw out three Padres baserunners in the first